11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke and said,

11:2 Should not this¹ abundance of words be answered,²
or should this³ talkative man⁴
be vindicated?⁵
11:3 Will your idle talk⁶ reduce people to silence,⁷
and will no one rebuke⁸ you when you mock?⁹
11:4 For you have said, “My teaching¹⁰ flawless,
and I am pure in your sight.”¹¹
11:5 But O that God would speak,¹²
that he would open his lips against you,¹³
11:6 And that he would reveal to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides,¹⁴
so that you would know¹⁵
that God has forgiven some of your sins.¹⁶
11:7 Can you discover¹⁷ the essence¹⁸ of God;
can you find out¹⁹
the perfection of the Almighty?²⁰
11:8 It is higher²¹ than the heavens—what can you do?
deeper than Sheol²²—what can you know?
11:9 Its measure is longer than the earth,
and broader than the sea;
11:10 If he comes by²³ and confines²⁴ you²⁵
and convenes a court,²⁶
then who can prevent²⁷ him?
11:11 For he knows deceitful²⁸ men,
when he sees evil, will he not²⁹ consider it?³⁰
11:12 But an empty man will become wise,
when a wild donkey colt is born a man.³¹
11:13 As for you,³² if you prove faithful,³³
and if³⁴ you stretch out your hands toward him,³⁵
11:14 if³⁶ iniquity is in your hand—put it far away,³⁷
and do not let evil reside in your tents.
11:15 For³⁸ then you will lift up your face
without³⁹ blemish,⁴⁰
you will be securely established⁴¹
and will not fear.
11:16 For you will forget your trouble,⁴²
you will remember it
like water that⁴³ has flowed away.
11:17 And life⁴⁴ will be brighter⁴⁵ than the noonday;
though there be darkness,⁴⁶
it will be like the morning.
11:18 And you will be secure, because there is hope;
you will be protected,⁴⁷
you will take your rest in safety.
11:19 And you will lie down with⁴⁸ no one making you afraid; and many will seek your favor.⁴⁹
11:20 But the eyes of the wicked fail,⁵⁰
and escape⁵¹ eludes them;
and their hope⁵² is to breathe their last.⁵³